by Liz Kessler
Neptune pulled on his beard and leaned down. “You understand the charges?” he asked in a slightly quieter voice.
“I think so.”
“Speak, then!” he snapped. “Do you HAVE anything to say in your defense?”
“Well, I —” I stopped and looked around the courtroom, and at the merpeople watching on all sides. Some were staring at me. Others were talking quietly or laughing — at me, probably. My tail turned to jelly, and I was about to say, “No,” when I caught Mom’s eyes. She removed her mask for a second and forced herself to smile.
“Do not make me wait,” Neptune growled.
That was when I realized what I had to do.
“Um, sir, Mr. —”
“Do I LOOK like a sir? A Mr.? Do I?”
I flicked my tail a little, propelling myself higher than my three feet eight inches (presuming my tail was as long as my legs — I had never checked), and looked nervously around at the courtroom. “Your Majesty,” I corrected myself. “I know this might sound weird, but, well, it’s actually kind of nice to be here.”
A murmur flickered through the room and along the rows outside it. The reporters scribbled furiously on their pads.
“‘Nice,’ did she say?” I heard someone ask.
“Is she being sarcastic?” another one replied.
“It’s what I’ve always wanted,” I added quickly. “Not being in court about to get locked up for the rest of my life, obviously. But being here. With all of you. It feels right.”
I glanced at Mom. “I mean, I know I’m part human, and my mom’s fantastic. She raised me all on her own and everything. But my dad’s great, too. Not just because he’s a merman, so I get to be part mermaid.” I paused and looked Neptune in the eyes. “Although that part’s absolutely wicked,” I said.
Neptune leaned forward. He scowled, narrowing his eyes at me.
“I mean, it’s fantastic — it’s swishy! But more than anything, I’m proud of him because of his belief in love.” I pulled the poem he’d written out of my pocket and held it out. “My dad might have been locked away, but his feelings weren’t.”
I glanced at Neptune. A tic was beating in his cheek, a glare shone in his eyes, but his body had softened a little; the grasp on his trident had loosened. “You can’t make people stop loving each other just because a law says it’s wrong,” I said.
The dolled-up mermaid with the pet crab wiped her eel across her cheek. Another took a hanky out of her coat pocket. A few merpeople were nodding. I heard someone at the back say, “She’s got a point, you know.”
Neptune let out a thunderous sigh and a huge mock yawn.
“My dad fell in love. So what? What did I do to deserve to grow up without a father?” I continued.
Tutting noises were spreading through the spectators’ seats. A couple of them shook their heads.
“I wanted to see my dad, that’s all. Is that so wrong?” I paused and looked at Mom. “If it really is so terrible, if love is such a horrible crime, then fine, lock me up. Lock up my mom, too.” I turned back to Neptune. “Your Majesty. That merman”— I pointed to the first one who’d spoken —“he wants us imprisoned because of laws that were written centuries ago. Things have changed. Humans aren’t all bad, you know.”
As I looked around the courtroom, I paused on Mr. Beeston’s face. Neptune remained silent. “Hey, even one of your top advisers had one for a father,” I said. Mr. Beeston lowered his eyes as people turned to look at him. “If it can produce such loyal, devoted merfolk as Mr. Beeston, can it really be so wrong?”
I let my question hang in the air for a moment before turning back to Neptune. I couldn’t think of anything else to say. “I only wanted to see my dad,” I said finally.
Neptune held my eyes for a few seconds. Then he banged his trident on the floor. “I will NOT be told my laws are wrong! How DARE you presume!”
He got up from his throne, banging his trident again. Everyone instantly rose to their tails.
The gates behind him opened. His chariot was waiting outside. “Court will adjourn,” he barked as the dolphins swam into the courtroom. Then he leaped into his chariot and swept out of the court.
I slumped back on my rock and waited to hear my fate.
No one spoke for the first few minutes. Then, gradually, everyone started whispering to each other, like at the doctor’s when you have to act like it’s a crime to talk. Maybe it was a crime, here. Everything else was, it seemed.
I returned to my seat and looked up nervously to see if I could catch Mom’s eye. She was sitting with her head in her hands. Was she mad at me?
We sat like that for ages, the court almost silent while we waited. Some people left; a few took out lunch boxes and munched on seaweed sandwiches.
Then the gates at the front of the court opened. Neptune was coming back in. Everyone leaped up.
Neptune waved us down impatiently with his trident.
He waited for the court to be absolutely silent before he spoke.
“Emily Windsnap.” He looked at me and indicated sharply for me to get up. I flicked my tail and stood as straight as possible. He looked at Mom and pointed upward again. “Mary Penelope Windsnap,” he read from the card in front of him, and Mom stood up. “You have both defied ME, and MY laws!”
I swallowed hard.
“My kingdom has held by these laws very well for many generations. I invent them; you abide by them. That’s how it works!”
I tried to get used to the idea of living in a cell with a bed of seaweed and limpets on the wall.
“Do you DARE say I am wrong?” he continued, his voice rising with every word. “Do you think you know better than ME? You do NOT!”
He leaned forward to stare at me. What would I get? Ten years? Twenty? Life?
He paused for ages. When he spoke again, a gentleness had fought its way into his voice. He spoke so quietly, I had to hold my breath to hear him.
“However . . .” he said, then stopped. He stroked his beard. “However,” he repeated, “you have touched on something today. Something beyond laws.” His voice softened even more. “And therefore, beyond punishment.”
I held my breath as he paused, tapping the side of his trident.
“You will both be released!” he boomed eventually.
A gasp went through the court, followed by a stream of murmuring. Neptune lifted his trident and glared around the room. The chattering stopped instantly.
“You defied my laws,” he went on. “But why? Shall I pretend I do not understand? Or that I have never felt that way? NO! I am no hypocrite! And I shall NOT punish you for love. I shall NOT! Mrs. Windsnap.” He turned to Mom. A long deep sigh, his breath rumbling out from his throat. Then —“Your husband is also to be released.”
Another gasp whizzed through the court.
“On one condition,” he continued. “The three of you will join a community on an island with a secret location. This will be your home from now on. If you break this condition, you will be punished most severely. Do you understand?”
He stared at us both. I nodded vigorously. Had I heard right? Was I really going to see my dad again?
The gold-jacketed merman suddenly rose from his seat. “Your Majesty, forgive me,” he said, bowing low. “But the other merchild? You know, there could be trouble if —”
“Just get them all out from under my tail,” Neptune barked. “She can join them, for all I care. Discuss it with her parents. Either that or a memory wipe.”
“Very well, Your Majesty.” He sat down again.
Neptune scanned the court. “And perhaps you can all tell your kinfolk that your king is not only a firm ruler, but also a just and compassionate one.” His eyes landed on me. “One who will no longer punish folk merely for loving.”
Then he got up from his throne and banged his trident on the floor. “Case closed,” he bellowed, and left the court.
It all happened so quickly after that. The room erupted in noise. People were
clapping and cheering; others gossiped among themselves. A few came over to the dock to shake my hand.
“Can I go now?” I asked the guard. He nodded curtly and pointed to the exit as he undid my handcuffs.
Outside the court, a mermaid with her hair in a bun took my hand. “Your mom will be escorted separately; she’ll meet you in a bit,” she said. “Let’s get you out of here.”
“Who are —” I began, but she’d turned around and was pulling me toward a boat that looked like a cross between a limousine and a submarine. It was white and long, with gold handles on the doors.
A crowd was waiting by the limo boat. “Emily, can you tell me how you feel?” one of them asked, a black reed poised above her notebook. I recognized her as one of the reporters from the court.
“Emily doesn’t want to talk at the moment,” the mermaid said. “She has to —”
“I feel great,” I said. “I just can’t wait to see my mom and dad together.”
“Thanks, Emily.” The reporter scribbled furiously as I was bundled into the boat. There was someone else inside.
“Shona!”
“Emily!”
We hugged each other tight.
“We’re going to an island!” I said. “My dad’s coming!”
“Seat belts,” the mermaid instructed from the driver’s seat. Then we shot forward like a bullet. As we sped through the water, I told Shona everything that had happened. “And they said you might be able to come, too!” I finished off. I didn’t mention the other option. Surely her parents would agree?
“Swishy!” Shona laughed.
“Going up,” the mermaid called from the front as we tipped upward, gradually climbing until we came to a standstill. Then she opened a door in the ceiling. “Your stop,” she said to me, holding out her hand. I shook it, feeling rather stupid. “Good luck, Emily,” she said. “You’re a brave girl.”
“See you soon,” Shona said. She giggled, and we hugged each other before I climbed out. I stood on top of the boat.
Blinking in the daylight, I tried to adjust to the scene. King was moored just in front of me. A group of mermen waited in the water in front of it, holding on to two thick ropes. Mom was leaning right over the side, reaching down to someone in the sea. She was holding his hands.
I stood on tiptoe so I could see who it was. For a moment, I thought I must be imagining things. It couldn’t have happened this quickly, surely! A mop of black hair, sticking up where it was wet, a pair of deep brown eyes. Then he noticed me, and the dimple below his left eye deepened as he let go of Mom’s hands and swam toward me.
“Dad!” Without thinking, I jumped into the sea — and into his arms.
“My little gem,” he whispered as he hugged me tight. Then he took my hand and we swam back to the side of the boat together. Mom reached down with both arms and we held each other’s hands: a circle, a family.
A second later, a series of splashes and shouting exploded behind us. A bunch of reporters were heading our way.
“Mr. Windsnap.” One of them shoved a microphone shaped like a huge mushroom in my dad’s face. “Simon Watermark, Radio Merwave. Your story has melted Neptune’s heart. How does it feel to have made history?”
“Made history?” Dad laughed. “At the moment, my only feelings about history are that I want to go back twelve years and catch up with my wife and daughter.”
The reporter turned to Mom. “Mrs. Windsnap, is it true that your baby-sitter helped with your plan?”
That was when I noticed Millie sitting on a plastic chair at the front of the boat. One of the mermen was perched on the deck opposite her, his tail dangling over the side, the pair of them frowning at a pack of tarot cards spread out between them.
“We couldn’t have done it without her,” Mom said.
The reporter turned to me. “Emily, you were a brave girl to do what you did. You must have had some help along the way. Is there anyone you’d like to say a special thank-you to?”
“Well, I’d like to thank my mom for being so understanding. I’d like to thank my dad for believing in us.” He kissed my cheek. “And Millie for falling asleep at the right time.”
The reporter laughed.
“And I’d like to thank Shona. My best friend. I could never have done this without her.”
But out of the corner of my eye, I saw a familiar figure. Merpeople were talking and laughing in groups all around us, but he was on his own. He looked up and smiled a shaky, crooked smile at me, his head tilted in what looked almost like an apology.
And I forgave him.
Almost.
There was just one thing he could do for me first.
He jumped a little as I swam over to him. I whispered my favor in his ear.
“A mass memory wipe?” he blurted out. “That’s ridiculous — not to mention dangerous.”
“Please, Mr. Beeston,” I begged. “Think about all the nice things I said in there. After everything that’s happened, I should hate you forever. But I won’t. Not if you do this one little thing for me.”
He looked at me hard. What did he see? A girl he’d known all her life? Someone he perhaps cared about, just a tiny little bit?
“Very well,” he said eventually. “I’ll do it.”
I kept my head down as we stood by the side of the pool. Everyone around me chatted in groups. Julia was with Mandy, giggling together in the corner. Fine. I didn’t need Julia. I had Shona and no one could be a better best friend than her.
My heart thumped in my ears, blocking out everything else.
Bob arrived. I stepped forward, put my hand up. “Please, sir — I’d like to show you something.”
Bob frowned.
“I’ve been practicing.”
He waved a hand out. “All right then,” he said with half a smile. “Let’s have it.”
I stepped toward the edge of the pool.
“Look at fish girl,” Mandy sneered from the corner. “Showing off again.”
“That’s right,” I said, looking her right in the eyes. “Fish girl is showing off.”
I glanced up to the window. Too high. I couldn’t see outside, but I knew he’d be there. He promised.
I had five minutes. Five minutes to be proud instead of scared. Five minutes to be free, to be myself. But mostly, I had five minutes to give Mandy Rushton the biggest shock of her life!
And so I dove in. Piercing the surface as gently as I could, I swam underwater all the way to the opposite end of the pool.
“Big deal!” Mandy snorted. “So fish girl can do a length underwater. Whoopdi-do!”
As she mocked me, something was happening under the water. My tail was starting to form. The familiar feeling filled me with confidence. This was it!
I dove straight down. And then I flicked my tail up in the air. Spinning around and around under the water, I could feel my tail swirling and dancing, faster and faster. I couldn’t wait to see Mandy’s face!
I swam up to the surface, wiped my hair off my face, and looked across. Thirty open mouths. Total silence. If they’d been playing musical statues, it would have been a dead heat.
Mandy was the first to step forward. “But — but —” she sputtered. “But that’s a — how did you —”
I laughed. “Hey, guess what, Mandy? I’m not scared of you — and I don’t care what you call me. You can’t stop me being who I am. And you don’t get to bully me anymore, because I’m leaving. I’m off to a desert island, with a whole bunch of —”
A loud rap on the door stopped me saying any more.
Bob walked over to it in a daze. Mr. Beeston. Right on time. He spoke quietly to Bob. “Of course,” Bob said, his voice flat and mechanical. “I’d forgotten. Come on in.”
He turned to the class. “Folks, we have a visitor today. He’s come to give us a special talk.”
Mr. Beeston stood in front of the class, a large bag in his hand. “Now then, children,” he said. “Listen carefully. I’m going to teach you about lighthous
es, and the dangers of the sea.”
He opened the bag. “But before we start, let’s all have a doughnut. . . .”
I slipped quietly out of the pool as Mr. Beeston held everyone’s attention. It was almost as if I’d been forgotten. I would be soon!
“Thank you,” I mouthed as I passed behind the class. He nodded solemnly in reply.
I crept away from the pool, changed quickly, and slipped outside. Looking back at the building, I smiled.
“Goodbye, 7C,” I whispered. Then I turned and walked away.
We left that night. Mom, Dad, and me, off to a whole new world where who knew what was waiting for us. All I knew for sure was that my life as a mermaid had only just begun.
But remember, it’s just between you and me!
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Lots of people have helped this book make its way from my computer into your hands. I would especially like to thank:
Mum, for getting rid of all the pounding hearts and lurching stomachs;
Dad, for noticing all sorts of things that everyone else missed;
Peter B., for the title;
Kath, for her eagle-eyed nitpickiness;
Helen, for everything I’ve learned and gained from working with her at Cornerstones;
Cameron, for lending me books about sea life with great pictures and fantastic facts;
Cath, who hasn’t actually had anything to do with the book, but has been a brilliant pal all the time I’ve been writing it.
With extra special thanks to:
Lee, for an inspirational friendship, and for being so in tune with me and my characters;
Jill, for sharing the journey, and for having endless discussions about mermaids without complaining once;
Catherine, for all her support and guidance, and for finding Emily such a good home;
And Judith and Fiona, for being the perfect editors.
I swam around my cell for the hundredth time. “Let me out!” I yelled, scratching my hands down the rocky walls. My voice echoed around me. Finally, I slumped in the corner.
